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The wedge profile of the prototype C8 Corvette all but confirmed the new engine layout.

Midengined C8 Corvette: What we know and what we don’t

Latest 'Vette may go hybrid, C7 could live on alongside new model

August 10, 2018

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The midengine C8 Corvette is the worst kept secret in the automotive industry. Reports and rumors have been circulating for years documenting the development Chevrolet’s latest flagship sports car and its impending transition to a middle-mounted powerplant. Because details have been scant and scattered, there may have been a few you’ve missed. Here’s the rundown of how the C8 is shaping up.

Engine

There’s been extensive speculation on what is going to power the new car. Ostensibly, the new car will have still a V8, likely an even hotter version of the current 6.2-liter LT1. Removing the V8 while simultaneously placing the engine behind the driver would be a bridge too far for the Corvette faithful, some of which have already voiced their distaste about the new car’s break from tradition.

However, this doesn’t mean that the new 'Vette’s V8 will be alone in its new home. There have been rumbles that a pair of turbos may find their way into the C8’s engine bay. That version would likely equal or top the output of the current ZR1 Corvette. There’s also been buzz about a hybrid version with an electrically powered front axle. The addition of electrons to the C8’s powertrain could propel it into Bugatti Veyron territory, with four figures of horsepower.

The manual may disappear in the next generation Corvette. Tremec has reportedly been developing a dual-clutch to replace the current Corvette’s 8-speed 8L90 auto. It’s hard to deny the performance benefits of the modern dual-clutch units, especially in a car that’s clearly intended to battle Europe’s best supercars. Even so, it will be a sad day if C7 is the last manual Corvette.

Chassis

GM has kept the new Corvette’s underpinnings well-hidden. The new car will likely be based around an aluminum spaceframe instead of utilizing more exotic materials to keep the car light but also relatively affordable. Current Corvette technologies like the MagneRide suspension and carbon brakes should still be on the option list.

Body

One Corvette custom that could be carried into the new generation is the fiberglass body. The new car will have some carbon accents and add-ons, but like the aluminum space frame, lightness and low-cost make fiberglass panels a no-brainer.

Coupe and convertible body styles should still be available. No word yet on a targa version. Active aero may also be on tap to keep the car planted at the speeds it’s going to be capable of.

The 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1 is incontrovertibly an engineering marvel. Taking a nuclear reactor like the LT5, attaching it to a real-deal clutch and forcing 755 hp (and 715 lb-ft of torque) through ...

Development

Even with the shift to a mid-engine layout, building a beast more capable than the current Corvette is on track will be a tall order for GM’s engineers. In addition to making laps around GM’s Milford proving grounds, the C8 has seen plenty of track time at the Nürburgring. While the new car won’t touch the Porsche 919 Evo’s new overall ring record, it should still be blisteringly fast.

Price and availability

Though many thought the C8 would break cover last January at the Detroit auto show, it never materialized. Word on the street is that the C8 will finally be unveiled early next year, but not at NAIAS. The first C8’s should go on sale in the fall of 2019 at a price just south of $100,000.

The C7 may not be dead

Another first in Corvette history may happen with the introduction of the C8: the C7 may be sold alongside the new model. This move makes sense for a couple reasons. The C7 is five years into its product cycle, which is middle-aged by Corvette standards. Even if GM feels that the front engine layout is maxed out on track, there’s plenty of other buyers who just want the traditional Corvette experience.

Also, since the C8 will be such a radical departure from previous iterations, the C7 could be sold as an entry-level alternative to satiate the typical Corvette buyer and those of more ordinary economic means.

Bottom Line

The C8 is going to be an insanely capable machine. Chevrolet is clearly trying to build the Corvette into a world-beater but doesn’t want to leave their traditional customers behind. Can they have their cake and eat it too? We’ll find out for sure next year.